Victory Media has named South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) to its coveted Military Friendly Schools list.

The 2013 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students and to ensure their success on campus.

“Inclusion on the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools shows South Piedmont Community College’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, director for G.I. Jobs and vice president at Victory Media. “As interest in education grows, we’re thrilled to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”

The Military Friendly Schools media and website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, feature the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences. The 1,739 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience.

“We are very pleased to be selected as a 2012-2013 Military Friendly School,” said SPCC financial aid director John Ratliff, who is a veteran himself and is also the school’s director of veteran affairs. “SPCC fully supports veterans and their families as they seek to achieve educational and career goals at our college. Providing access and promoting success for our students is our daily mission and our motto is: ‘Start here…Go anywhere!’ We look forward to being of service.”

“John Ratliff is very connected to the needs of veterans and has done an excellent job finding and creating opportunities for them to continue their education,” SPCC president Stan Sidor said.

Now in its fourth year, the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide. The survey tabulation process, methodology and weightings that comprise the 2013 list were independently verified by Ernst and Young LLP. Each year, schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board consisting of educators from across the country. A full list of board members can be found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/board.

A full story and detailed list of 2013 Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual G.I. Jobs Guide to Military Friendly Schools, distributed in print and digital format to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in early October.

Complete survey methodology is available at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/Article/methodology-press-kit.